Page 17 of Ruined Promises

“Whoa, what,” the girls shout in unison. “He said that?”

I recall our conversation and nibble on my bottom lip. “Well, no, he never used that word, but he did mumble something after I said it. Maybe he was just confirming it.” It was me who called it that. Of course, that is the furthest thing from the truth. Here it was, the best sex of my life, and it turned into a total clusterfuck. I bite back the emotion, but when both of my best friends come barreling toward me, pulling into their arms, I let loose. The tears begin to fall. “It was just supposed to be a one-night stand; I don’t know why I’m this messed up over his words.”

Hadley brushes the hair out of my face and cups my cheeks in her hands. “Because you’re human. You feel with your heart.”

My friends let me cry it out. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol or the emotions followingthe best sex of my life that has me a complete mess. Hadley eventually pulls away from our group hug and stands, taking the bottle of wine from the coffee table with her. I hold Brynn’s hand while resting my head on her shoulder.Oh, this should be good.

“This is the new and improved Lexi Baker. You are a badass bitch. And fuck him.” She spits out the last part a little harsher than I think she planned.

“She already did,” Brynn adds with a fake cough in her hand.

“Touché.” Hadley points to her on the couch with the bottle and laughs. “But no, fuck him in the nonliteral sense. I mean, unless he wants to take you on his desk, then yes, definitely go for it because that’s hot as hell.” She does a little twerk that I think in her mind is supposed to represent me bent over a desk.

I chuckle andtake the glass that’s handed to me. “No,go in there tomorrow and show him why you are the best damn events director and look damn good doing it.”

She holds the bottle up and uses the other hand to raise, ensuring that we stand from the couch. We all clink our glasses and take a drink. Hadley takes a relatively larger sip straight from the bottle.

“I love you guys so much.” How lucky am I to have these people in my life?

Clearing my throat, I take a seat back on the couch and cross my legs under me. “Okay, now that we’ve aired my dirty laundry on a damn Monday, let’s talk about something else.”

“Ooo, like how fine Mr. Murphy was looking tonight? Seriously, Brynn, why aren’t you banging him?” Hadley smirks.

Brynn throws her head back on the couch, groaning. “Because we’re just friends,” she admits for what feels like the millionth time. But are we seriously the only ones that see how hot their chemistry is? I feel like “we’re just friends” are famous last words.

We spend the rest of the evening laughing and chatting before Brynn leaves, and Hadley heads to her room for bed.

I throw the leftover food containers in the fridge and the empty wine bottles on the counter before making my way to my bedroom. Stripping off my clothes, I climb into bed and wonder what’s in store for me tomorrow. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I’m supposed to kick ass and love my job, not be consumed with thoughts of the man who now signs my paycheck. I can do this—I can remember that Bentley Harrington is just my boss and not the sex on the stick I had gotten off to the thought of all weekend.

I finally push thoughts of our one night together out of my head and pray I have the strength to get through this.

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